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In this work, the properties of the Br− ion‐doped Cs2SnI6 system (Cs2SnI6−xBrx, x = 0–6) are systematically explored via the first principle calculation. The evolution of Cs2SnI6−xBrx crystal structure in the doping process is obtained by regulating the doping positions where I− ions are replaced with Br− ions, and the changing curve of the bandgap is drawn on the basis of the setting of the U value in I 5p and Br 5p orbits and the accurate description of the bandgap of Cs2SnI6−xBrx with HSE06 hybrid functional. Br− ions doping not only improves the stability of the Cs2SnI6−xBrx structure, but also can adjust its bandgap width. In light of the analysis of gain and loss of electrons among ions and electron density difference during the doping process, the introduction of Br− ions enable Cs2SnI6−xBrx to have a stronger ionic crystal character than Cs2SnI6, which indicates that the Cs2SnI6−xBrx is suitable to be applied to photoelectric devices as a carrier transport layer. The further analysis of the distribution of electronic states density of Cs2SnI6−xBrx and the variation trend of its absorption spectra confirms the transition process of electrons among energy bands, which also reveals the main reason why the performance of current photovoltaic devices based on Cs2SnI6 are unsatisfactory. It is notable that we find Cs2SnI6−xBrx, especially Cs2SnI3Br3 is an ideal material for solar‐blind detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histone deacetylases (HDAs) play an important role in transcriptional regulation of multiple biological processes. In this study, we investigated the function of HDA15 in abscisic acid (ABA) responses. We used immunopurification coupled with mass spectrometry-based proteomics to identify proteins interacting with HDA15 in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). HDA15 interacted with the core subunits of the MOS4-associated complex (MAC), MAC3A and MAC3B, with interaction between HDA15 and MAC3B enhanced by ABA. hda15 and mac3a/mac3b mutants were ABA-insensitive during seed germination and hyposensitive to salinity. RNA sequencing analysis demonstrated that HDA15 and MAC3A/MAC3B coregulate ABA-responsive intron retention (IR). Furthermore, HDA15 reduced the histone acetylation level of genomic regions near ABA-responsive IR sites and the association of MAC3B with ABA-responsive pre-mRNA was dependent on HDA15. Our results indicate that HDA15 is involved in ABA responses by interacting with MAC3A/MAC3B to mediate splicing of introns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This review was conducted to compare the efficacy of suprapatellar (SP) and infrapatellar (IP) approaches for treating distal tibial fractures with intramedullary nailing. Method: This systematic review included studies comparing the outcomes of patients receiving nailing for distal tibial fractures using the SP and IP approaches. We searched the Cochrane CENTRAL, MEDLINE and Embase databases for relevant studies till 18th Sep. 2022. We used the Newcastle Ottawa Scale to assess study quality and a random-effects meta-analysis to synthesize the outcomes. We used the mean difference (MD) or standardized mean difference (SMD) with the 95% confidence interval (CI) for continuous data and the odds ratio (OR) with the 95% CI for dichotomous data. Results: Four studies with 586 patients (302 in the SP group and 284 in the IP group) were included in this systematic review. The SP group may have had little or no difference in pain and slightly better knee function (MD 3.90 points, 95% CI 0.83 to 5.36) and better ankle function (MD: 8.25 points, 95% CI 3.35 to 13.15) than the IP group 12 months after surgery. Furthermore, compared to the IP group, the SP group had a lower risk of malalignment (OR: 0.22, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.75; number needed to treat (NNT): 6), a lower risk for open reduction (OR: 0.58, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.97; NNT: 16) and a shorter surgical time (MD: − 15.14 min, 95% CI − 21.28 to − 9.00). Conclusions: With more advantages, the suprapatellar approach may be the preferred nailing technique over the infrapatellar approach when treating distal tibial fractures. Level of evidence: Level III, systematic review of non-randomized studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new species of the Clubiona corticalis group in China are described: Clubiona bidactylina sp. nov., C. camela sp. nov., and C. subhuiming sp. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous materials such as 5A molecular sieve (5A) display huge thermal resistance due to high porosity and lots of voids between grains that is negative to hydrogen isotope separation engineering. Generally, introducing thermal conductive fillers contributes to reducing thermal resistance while results in decreasing volume ratio of porous materials and then certainly causes declined hydrogen adsorption capacity. Here, a liquid polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is pressed into the voids between 5A grains, which is further developed into a silicon, oxygen and carbon (SiOC) structure suffering from 350 °C sintering. 5A/SiOC composite at 10 wt% polydimethylsiloxane (5A/SiOC10) displays 0.74 W/mK of thermal conductivity, which is about 300% higher than that of neat 5A. More importantly, enhanced rather than reduced hydrogen adsorption capacities at a fixed volume of the composite are determined. 5A/SiOC10 shows adsorption capacities of H 2 (175.4 mL/cm3) and D 2 (188.4 mL/cm3) while neat 5A shows that of H 2 (171.6 mL/cm3) and D 2 (165.8 mmol/cm3) at 77 K with 1 bar. Besides, enhanced thermal conductivity of porous materials shortens the cycle time of hydrogen isotope separation that contributes to reducing energy consumption. This work proposes a novel strategy on void filling to tailor thermal resistance of porous materials, which open a window to improve hydrogen isotope separation with thermal management materials. [Display omitted] • Enhanced thermal conductivity without at the expense of hydrogen adsorption capacity of porous materials. • A close relationship between thermal conductivity and hydrogen adsorption of porous materials is constructed. • Thermal resistance of porous materials is effectively tailored with void filling. • Cycle time of hydrogen isotope separation process tends to be shortened for reducing energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of the digital economy has become a new way to respond to the epidemic impact effectively. With the innovative breakthrough of information and communication technology, the digital and real economies are deeply integrated. The digital economy has become an important driving force for the transformation of economic momentum and development. Panel data from 31 provinces in China from 2010 to 2019 were selected for analysis. In the first stage, the study constructed the evaluation index system of digital economy development. Then, the quality development index of the digital economy is calculated by using the entropy method. Finally, the main factors of digital economy development are analysed by spatial measurement. The research results prove that: (1) the development of China’s digital economy in 2010–2019 has gradually increased; (2) the development of the digital economy has a positive correlation between regions and has a spatial spillover effect; (3) the level of economic development, urbanisation, government support, industrial structure, and the level of opening will promote the development of the digital economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is an important regulator of epidermal function. We previously reported that knockdown of the CaSR or treatment with its negative allosteric modulator, NPS-2143, significantly reduced UV-induced DNA damage, a key factor in skin cancer development. We subsequently wanted to test whether topical NPS-2143 could also reduce UV-DNA damage, immune suppression, or skin tumour development in mice. In this study, topical application of NPS-2143 (228 or 2280 pmol/cm2) to Skh:hr1 female mice reduced UV-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) (p < 0.05) and oxidative DNA damage (8-OHdG) (p < 0.05) to a similar extent as the known photoprotective agent 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 (calcitriol, 1,25D). Topical NPS-2143 failed to rescue UV-induced immunosuppression in a contact hypersensitivity study. In a chronic UV photocarcinogenesis protocol, topical NPS-2143 reduced squamous cell carcinomas for only up to 24 weeks (p < 0.02) but had no other effect on skin tumour development. In human keratinocytes, 1,25D, which protected mice from UV-induced skin tumours, significantly reduced UV-upregulated p-CREB expression (p < 0.01), a potential early anti-tumour marker, while NPS-2143 had no effect. This result, together with the failure to reduce UV-induced immunosuppression, may explain why the reduction in UV-DNA damage in mice with NPS-2143 was not sufficient to inhibit skin tumour formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Caregivers of lung cancer patients frequently experience psychological distress and high caregiver burden. Previous studies have focused on caregiver burden for patients with advanced lung cancer, while few studies focused on the caregiver burden among informal caregivers of postoperative patients with early‐stage non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Objectives: This study aimed to (a) examine caregiver burden for caregivers of patients with early‐stage NSCLC after surgical treatment and (b) identify predictive factors related to caregiver burden of patients with early‐stage NSCLC. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted in a university‐affiliated hospital in Changsha, China. A total of 385 patients with early‐stage NSCLC and postsurgical treatment and their caregivers were included in this study. Caregiver burden was evaluated using the Zarit caregiver burden interview (ZBI). A set of questionnaires was used to assess psychosocial characteristics of participants, including simplified coping style questionnaire, social support rate scale, and hospital anxiety and depression scale. Hierarchical regression analysis was applied to identify factors associated with caregiver burden. We followed STROBE checklist for reporting the study. Results: The average ZBI score was 29.1 ± 11.4. Most caregivers (62.6%) demonstrated mild to moderate caregiving burden. The duration of caregiving (β = 0.18, p <.001), passive coping of caregiver (β = 0.17, p =.001) and anxiety (β = 0.13, p =.007) were significant predictors of caregiving burden. A variance of 17.6% in caregiving burden was explained by these identified factors. Conclusions: Caregivers of early‐stage NSCLC patients experience a mild to moderate level of caregiver burden. The duration of caregiving, passive coping and anxiety are factors associated with caregiver burden. Relevance to clinical practice: Clinicians should provide early care to support new roles of family members as caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orange-yellow luminescent Y 2- x Sr 1- y Al 4 SiO 12 : x Ce3+, y Mn2+ (x = 0.04–0.06, y = 0.1–0.6, abbreviated as YSAS: x Ce3+, y Mn2+) phosphors with garnet structure were prepared by the high temperature solid-phase method. The matrix energy band is calculated by DFT, where YAG is 4.535 e V and YSAS is 4.874 e V. The Rietveld refinement of the XRD data indicates that Ce3+ mainly replaces the Y3+ sites, while Mn2+ selectively occupies. The Gaussian peaks of the fluorescence spectrum prove that Mn2+ occupies two luminescent centers, which are further determined by Van Uitert's empirical formula. The doping of Ce3+/Mn2+ units can effectively enhance the structural rigidity of the YAG host and promote the red-shift of the emission peak position of Mn2+. The fluorescence decay kinetics test proves that Ce3+ can transfer energy to Mn2+, and the transfer efficiency reaches 72.08% at y = 0.5. The thermal stability test of the phosphor shows the luminous intensity at 473 K still maintains 86% of the room temperature. The phosphor prepared in this experiment was combined with a blue light chip to make a w-LED device, and the performance showed Ra = 86.1, CCT = 5168 K. The above results show that the emission color of the garnet structure can be tuned by energy transfer, which is attractive for future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a near-net-shape technology, the twin-roll strip casting (TRC) process can be considered to apply to the fabrication of TiAl alloy sheets. However, the control of the grain distribution is very important in strip casting because the mechanical properties of strips are directly determined by the solidification microstructure. A threedimensional (3D) cellular automation finite-element (CAFE) model based on ProCAST software was established to simulate the solidification microstructure of Ti-43Al alloy. Then, the influence of casting temperature and the maximum nucleation density (nmax) on the solidification microstructure was investigated in detail. The simulation results provide a good explanation and prediction for the solidification microstructure in the molten pool before leaving the kissing point. Experimental and simulated microstructure show the common texture <001> orientation in the columnar grains zone. Finally, the microstructure evolution of the Ti-43Al alloy was analyzed and the solidification phase transformation path during the TSC process was determined, i.e., L → L+β → β → β+α → α+γ+β/B2 phase under a faster cooling rate and L → L+β → β → β+α → γ+lamellar (α2+γ)+β/B2 phase under a slower cooling rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a simple and low-energy synthesis scheme of Fe single-atom anchored carbon nitride was reported to improve the photocatalytic performance of g-C3N4. Synthesized Fe single-atom doped graphite carbon nitride (Fe-SACs/g-C3N4) showed high activity and stability for the degradation of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT); under visible light irradiation, 99% of MBT could be degraded within 35 min, and the degradation ability basically did not decline after five cycles, mainly due to the synergistic effect of the Fe single atoms and carbon nitride. The results of X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and density functional theory calculations show that the single-atom Fe forms Fe-N4 coordination with pyridine nitrogen to generate a new electron transfer channel, which can significantly improve the in-plane separation and transfer of carriers, finally enhancing the generation of superoxide radicals. This is confirmed by time-resolved photoluminescence, photoelectron chemistry, and electron spin resonance measurements. The main intermediates of MBT degradation were determined using a liquid chromatograph–mass spectrometer (LC-MS), and a possible photocatalytic mechanism based on the quenching experiment and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) test was proposed. A deep understanding of the contribution of Fe single-atom sites with clear local coordination structures will help to design effective catalysts for photocatalytic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructing proper in vitro tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is important for cancer immune‐therapy studies, while the selection of biomaterials is critical. As innate immune cells, macrophages can target and kill cancer cells in vivo at the early stage of tumor development. However, this targeting phenomenon has not been observed in vitro. Herein, a quasi‐3D in vitro cell culture model is constructed to mimic TIME by integrating hydrogel collagen as extracellular matrix for cells. In the collagen‐based quasi‐3D in vitro system, for the first time, it is found that macrophages can be attracted toward cancer cells along the dynamically reconstructed collagen fibers. By combining traction force microscopy and customized micro‐manipulator system, it is revealed that the collagen matrix‐transmitted tensile force signaling precisely guides the migration of macrophages toward cancer cells. The mechano‐responsiveness mechanism is related to the activation of mechanosensitive ion channels, and the induced local increase of calcium signal, which is proved to enhance the F‐actin assembly and to guide the cell migration. This novel mechanism advances the understanding of the role of collagen fibers in mechanotaxis of macrophages. Taken together, it has great potential for assisting biomaterial designs in developing new drug‐screening models and clinical strategies for cancer immune‐therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the implementation strategy of an online tracking simulation system for the 660 MW ultra supercritical circulating fluidized bed boiler (USCFB). The establishment of the online system can be divided into offline and online phases. In the offline phase, the high-precision model and initial condition database of the boiler are first established. After the initial conditions are loaded, the initial conditions are adjusted through mass and energy compensation to make the initial state of the model consistent with the current operating state of the unit. In the online phase, this paper analyzes the global sensitivity of the 660 MW USCFB, establishes an online tracking mechanism based on the PI controller, and conducts simulation tests. The experiment shows that the tracking simulation system established in this paper can track the analog signal quickly and accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher dietary energy is often used to achieve better animal performance in mutton sheep production. Notably, changing the diet formula affects rumen fermentation and the microbiota of ruminants. In this study, we investigated the effect of dietary energy on rumen fermentation and ruminal microbiota in fattening sheep. Fifteen 2-month-old white-headed Suffolk sheep (♂) × Hu sheep (♀) crossbred lambs were randomly divided into three treatments based on the dietary energy of the feeds fed: 8.67 MJ/kg (Low energy (LE); n = 5), 10.38 MJ/kg (standard energy (CON); n = 5), and 12.31 MJ/kg (high energy (HE); n = 5) groups. After 70 days of feeding, sheep were slaughtered and the ruminal fluids were collected and analyzed to determine fermentation parameters. Microbiota was determined using metagenomics sequencing. Notably, the microbial cell protein (MCP) and butyric acid concentrations were significantly high in the HE group. Metagenomic sequencing revealed that ACE and Chao indexes of the HE group were significantly decreased. Four genera among the major classified taxa across all the kingdoms differed in relative abundance in the three dietary energy levels. The relative abundances of Prevotella_brevis, Succiniclasticum_ruminis, Prevotellace-ae_bacterium, and Lachnospiraceae_bacterium were significantly correlated with rumen fermentation. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis further revealed that a high-energy diet increased lipid metabolism of microbiota. The Carbohydrate Active enzymes (CAZy) gene, which participates in energy metabolism, was upregulated, while genes regulating plant cell wall degradation were downregulated in the HE group. These results suggest that a high-energy diet had minimal influence on the rumen fermentation pattern but altered the composition of the rumen microbiota, enhancing microbial lipid metabolism and limiting crude fiber metabolism. The findings of this study provide scientific evidence of the effect of dietary energy on ruminant fermentation and fattening sheep production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the Estimating Circulation and Climate of the Ocean (ECCO) Phase II product, this study investigates the energetic characteristics during eddy shedding in the Gulf of Mexico. Based on the sea level anomaly data between 1992 and 2016, a total of 34 eddy shedding events are identified. Drawing on multiscale energy and vorticity analysis method, the eddy kinetic energy (EKE) budgets are diagnosed based on the ensemble of 34 eddy shedding events. During the stage of eddy shedding, barotropic instability (BT) dominates the energy budget. Meanwhile, energy transfers from upper layer to the deep layer by vertical pressure work (PW), which is the main source of abyssal EKE. Before eddy detachment, cyclonic eddy appears at the southeastern side of the Loop Current. Even though buoyancy forcing (BF) dominates the energy budget, BT makes considerable contribution to the generation of cyclonic eddy. Baroclinic instability (BC) shares the similar horizontal distribution with BF which accounts for 32% of the value of BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is identifiable by the excessive increase of mesenchyme paired with the loss of epithelium. Total flavonoids of Astragalus (TFA), the main biologically active ingredient of the traditional Chinese medicine, Astragalus membranaceus (Huangqi), shows outstanding effects on treating pulmonary disorders, including COVID-19-associated pulmonary dysfunctions. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of TFA on treating pulmonary fibrosis and the possible mechanisms behind these effects. A549 cells were treated with TGF- β 1 and TFA to observe the potential effects of TFA on regulating alveolar epithelial cell proliferation, TGF- β 1-induced EMT, and the underlying mechanisms in vitro. Then, mouse pulmonary fibrosis was induced with a single intra-tracheal injection of bleomycin, and TFA was administrated by i.p. injection. Lung fibrosis was evaluated through histological and molecular analyses, and the possible mechanisms were explored using immunological methods. The results demonstrated that TFA could promote cell proliferation but inhibit TGF- β 1-induced EMT on A549 cells. TFA attenuated BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice by modulating inflammatory infiltration and M2 macrophage polarization; it furthermore modulated EMT through regulating the TGF- β 1/Smad pathway. In addition, TFA augmented the expression of the Wnt7b protein, which plays an important role in alveolar epithelium reparation. In conclusion, TFA alleviated bleomycin-induced mouse lung fibrosis by preventing the fibrotic response and increasing epithelium regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Rockery is often a key element of a Classical Chinese Garden. It's exquisite detailed physical characteristics a major contributor to artistic value, aesthetic appeal, and the carrier of historical and cultural heritage values. Poets and scholars have often described the beauty of these places in classical gardens in qualitative terms but lacked the quantitative tools to provide replicable metric descriptions. The highly complex forms and surfaces, irregularity, and fragility of garden rockeries has challenged authors to accurately describe the characteristics of these qualities using traditional methods and tools. This article presents a new method of digital characterization approach based on laser scanning and point cloud visualization, which can quantitatively detect and represent the pattern of rockery surface textures. It offers a replicable accurate quantitative descriptor of the Classical Chinese rockery. The Small-Rock Mountain Retreat, a nationally protected rockery garden in China, has been used as a case study. It contains original historic elements and more recently restored areas. Two characteristics of rockery surfaces, including the well-proportioned density and space, and the proper contrast between solid and void, were analyzed by examining four attributes: (1) surface complexity; (2) contour curvature; (3) shape variation; and (4) the interweaving of lightness and darkness. The findings demonstrate that, despite some similarities between the restored portion of the rockery and the historical remnants, there are variances in the richness of the details and the balanced distribution of shape change. The digital characterization approach introduced in this article offers a new perspective for recording and in turn safeguarding Chinese garden rockeries and other irregular cultural heritage objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), characterized by left ventricular or biventricular enlargement with systolic dysfunction, is the most common type of cardiac muscle disease. It is a major cause of congestive heart failure and the most frequent indication for heart transplantation. Aggregating evidence has convincingly demonstrated that DCM has an underlying genetic basis, though the genetic defects responsible for DCM in a larger proportion of cases remain elusive, motivating the ongoing research for new DCM-causative genes. In the current investigation, a multigenerational family affected with autosomal-dominant DCM was recruited from the Chinese Han population. By whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing analyses of the DNAs from the family members, a new BMP10 variation, NM_014482.3:c.166C > T;p.(Gln56*), was discovered and verified to be in co-segregation with the DCM phenotype in the entire family. The heterozygous BMP10 variant was not detected in 268 healthy volunteers enrolled as control subjects. The functional measurement via dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed that Gln56*-mutant BMP10 lost the ability to transactivate its target genes NKX2.5 and TBX20, two genes that had been causally linked to DCM. The findings strongly indicate BMP10 as a new gene contributing to DCM in humans and support BMP10 haploinsufficiency as an alternative pathogenic mechanism underpinning DCM, implying potential implications for the early genetic diagnosis and precision prophylaxis of DCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to advances in medical treatments, a substantial proportion of heart failure (HF) patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (EF, HFrEF) have experienced partial or complete recovery of EF, termed HFrecEF, and markedly improved clinical outcomes. In the present study, we sought to investigate the relationship between glycemic control and the incidence of HFrecEF in hospitalized HFrEF patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A total of 463 hospitalized T2DM patients with HFrEF were consecutively enrolled. Follow-up echocardiogram was performed after around 12 months. Patients who had an absolute EF improvement ≥10% and a second EF > 40% were classified into HFrecEF, and those who did not meet these criteria were defined as persistent HFrEF. During the 12-month follow-up, 44.5% of T2DM patients developed HFrecEF. Patients with HFrecEF had significantly lower HbA1c level than those with persistent HFrEF (6.5% [IQR 5.8% ∼ 7.2%] vs. 6.7% [IQR 6.1% ∼ 7.8%], P = 0.003), especially in HF of an ischemic etiology. HbA1c levels were inversely correlated with changes in EF during follow-up. After multivariate adjustment, every 1% increase in HbA1c conferred a 17.4% (OR: 0.826 [95% CI 0.701–0.968]) lower likelihood of HFrecEF. Compared to patients with good glycemic control (HbA1c ≤ 6.2%), those with poor glycemic control (HbA1c > 7.1%) had a 52.0% (OR: 0.480 [95% CI 0.281–0.811] decreased likelihood of HFrecEF. This study demonstrates that uncontrolled HbA1c level is associated with compromised development of HFrecEF in T2DM patients with HF, especially in those with an ischemic etiology. • Higher HbA1c level is independently associated with compromised development of HFrecEF in patients with type 2 diabetes. • Ischemic heart failure is more prone to be affected by hyperglycemia during myocardial functional recovery. • Assessing HbA1c levels aids in prediction of myocardial functional recovery in heart failure patients with type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrocarbon-bearing formation of Miano gas field belongs to the Early Cretaceous and it is bounded by two shale intervals, which are considered as maximum flooding surfaces (MFS). The hydrocarbon-bearing interval includes two reservoir units: a tight gas reservoir and its overlying conventional reservoir. Core samples, borehole logs, and well production performance revealed that the two reservoirs present reversed trends in reservoir quality through the gas field without obvious barriers. The average shale volume of the tight gas reservoir changes from 24.3% to 12.2% and the average permeability changes from 32.65 mD to 0.02 mD from the south to north. However, the average effective porosity of the overlaying conventional reservoir increases from 20% to 26% and the average permeability increases from 10 mD to 300 mD. The reversed trends in the two reservoirs lead to challenges in production forecast and development well proposals in the tight gas reservoir. Therefore, reservoir characterization and a predictive reservoir model are essential for further exploitation of Miano gas field. The geological genesis analysis integrating cores, borehole logs, and three-dimensional (3D) seismic data reveals that the producing interval of the tight gas reservoir is tidal-influenced shore facies deposition with intergranular pore space reduced by mineral cementation during burial diagenesis, while the overlaying conventional reservoir is fluvial-influenced deltaic deposition with abundant, well-connected intergranular macropores, which leads to a better reservoir quality. A reservoir model containing both the tight gas reservoir and the conventional reservoir is constructed considering the reservoir nature understanding, and the accuracy of the model is confirmed by reservoir surveillance activities with the simulation model. The study will be critical to the further reservoir development and hydrocarbon production in Miano gas field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution coupled with simultaneous pollutant degradation is a promising but challenging strategy for both wastewater treatment and renewable energy production. In this work, a series of direct Z-scheme heterostructural catalysts, denoted as CeO 2 /Cu–I-bpy, were designed and constructed by in-situ synthesizing CeO 2 nanoparticles on the surface of a coordinate polymer, named Cu–I-bpy. The simultaneous photocatalytic evolution of hydrogen and photo-degradation of organic pollutants was successfully achieved with this hybrid catalyst, even without any co-catalyst. The hybrid catalyst exhibited a 6.9 folds higher hydrogen evolution efficiency than the corresponding individual photo-reduction catalyst (Cu–I-bpy here), and 2.5 times degradation rate of the corresponding individual photo-oxidation catalyst (CeO 2 here), after optimizing the CeO 2 loading. After extensively characterized via XRD, XPS, Raman spectroscopy, UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, BET, photo-electrochemical method and photoluminescence, it was found that the hybrid catalysts show higher charge separation and transfer efficiency than corresponding individual CeO 2 and Cu–I-bpy. Further mechanism investigation via active species trapping, EPR and electron flow experiments indicates a direct Z-scheme charge transfer mechanism in the CeO 2 /Cu–I-bpy, which not only boosts the photogenerated electron-hole separation efficiency, but also retains the high reduction and oxidation ability the corresponding individual catalyst for hydrogen evolution and pollutant degradation, respectively. This work demonstrates the possibilities of turning waste water into energy resources using carefully designed photocatalytic systems. [Display omitted] • A series of CeO 2 /Cu–I-bpy heterostructures was synthesized. • They show simultaeous photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and dye degradation. • CeO 2 /Cu–I-bpy shows good photocatalytic performance without co-catalyst. • A direct Z-scheme charge transfer mechanism is revealed for CeO 2 /Cu–I-bpy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heart is the main organ of the circulatory system and requires fatty acids to maintain its activity. Stress is a contributor to aggravating cardiovascular diseases and even death, and exacerbates the abnormal lipid metabolism. The cardiac metabolism may be disturbed by stress. Cholecystokinin (CCK), which is a classical peptide hormone, and its receptor (CCKR) are expressed in myocardial cells and affect cardiovascular function. Nevertheless, under stress, the exact role of CCKR on cardiac function and cardiac metabolism is unknown and the mechanism is worth exploring. After unpredictable stress, a common stress-inducing model that induces the development of mood disorders such as anxiety and reduces motivated behavior, we found that the abnormal contraction and diastole of the heart, myocardial injury, oxidative stress and inflammation of mice were aggravated. Cholecystokinin A receptor and cholecystokinin B receptor knockout (CCK1R2R-/-) significantly reversed these changes. Mechanistically, fatty acid metabolism was found to be altered in CCK1R2R-/- mice. Differential metabolites, especially L-tryptophan, L-aspartic acid, cholesterol, taurocholic acid, ADP, oxoglutaric acid, arachidonic acid and 17-Hydroxyprogesterone, influenced cardiac function after CCK1R2R knockout and unpredictable stress. We conclude that CCK1R2R-/- ameliorated myocardial damage caused by unpredictable stress via altering fatty acid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to seek a selection and estimation procedure for a class of tensor regression problems with multivariate covariates and matrix responses, which can provide theoretical guarantees for model selection in finite samples. Considering the frontal slice sparsity and low-rankness inherited in the coefficient tensor, we formulate the regression procedure as a group SLOPE penalized low-rank tensor optimization problem based on an orthogonal decomposition, namely TgSLOPE. This procedure provably controls the newly introduced tensor group false discovery rate (TgFDR), provided that the predictor matrix is columnorthogonal. Moreover, we establish the asymptotically minimax convergence with respect to the TgSLOPE estimate risk. For efficient problem resolution, we equivalently transform the TgSLOPE problem into a difference-of-convex (DC) program with the level-coercive objective function. This allows us to solve the reformulation problem of TgSLOPE by an efficient proximal DC algorithm (DCA) with global convergence. Numerical studies conducted on synthetic data and a real human brain connection data illustrate the efficacy of the proposed TgSLOPE estimation procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background And Objectives: Human platelet antigens (HPAs) are alloantigens associated with antiplatelet alloantibodies and the risk of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). However, few studies have investigated associations among HPAs, antiplatelet autoantibodies, and cryoglobulins. Methods: We enrolled 43 patients with primary ITP, 47 with hepatitis C virus-associated ITP (HCV-ITP), 21 with hepatitis B virus-associated ITP (HBV-ITP), 25 controls with HCV, and 1013 normal controls. We analyzed HPA allele frequencies, including HPA1-6 and 15, antiplatelet antibodies binding to platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa, Ia/IIa, Ib/IX, IV, human leukocyte antigen class I, cryoglobulin IgG/A/M, and their associations with thrombocytopenia. Results: In the ITP cohort, HPA2ab, rather than HPA2aa, predicted a low platelet count. HPA2b was associated with the risk of developing ITP. HPA15b was correlated with multiple antiplatelet antibodies. In HCV-ITP patients, HPA3b was correlated with anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibodies. HCVITP patients with anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibodies had a higher positive rate of cryoglobulin IgG and IgA compared with those without anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibodies. Overlapping detection was also found among other antiplatelet antibodies and cryoglobulins. Like the antiplatelet antibodies, cryoglobulins were associated with clinical thrombocytopenia, implying their close relationship. Finally, we extracted cryoglobulins to confirm the exhibition of cryoglobulin-like antiplatelet antibodies. In contrast, in primary ITP patients, HPA3b was correlated with cryoglobulin IgG/A/M rather than anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibodies. Conclusion: HPA alleles were associated with antiplatelet autoantibodies and had different impacts in primary ITP and HCV-ITP patients. HCV-ITP was considered to be a symptom of mixed cryoglobulinemia in HCV patients. The pathophysiology may differ between these two groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims Hypopharyngeal multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH (HMII-pH) technology incorporating 2 trans-upper esophageal sphincter impedance channels has been developed to detect pharyngeal reflux. We used the HMII-pH technique to validate the candidate pharyngeal acid reflux (PAR) episodes based on the dual-pH tracings and determined the interobserver reproducibility. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in tertiary centers in Taiwan. Ninety patients with suspected laryngopharyngeal reflux and 28 healthy volunteers underwent HMII-pH test when off acid suppressants. Candidate PAR episodes were characterized by pharyngeal pH drops of at least 2 units and reaching a nadir pH of 5 within 30 seconds during esophageal acidification. Two experts manually independently identified candidate PAR episodes based on the dual-pH tracings. By reviewing the HMII-pH tracings, HMII-pH-proven PAR episodes were subsequently confirmed. The consensus reviews of HMII-pH-proven PAR episodes were considered to be the reference standard diagnosis. The interobserver reproducibility was assessed. Results A total of 105 candidate PAR episodes were identified. Among them 84 (80.0%; 95% CI, 71.0-87.0%) were HMII-pH-proven PAR episodes (82 in 16 patients and 2 in 1 healthy subject). Patients tended to have more HMII-pH-proven PAR episodes than healthy controls (median and percentile values [25th, 75th, and 95th percentiles]: 0 [0, 0, 3] vs 0 [0, 0, 0], P = 0.067). The concordance rate in diagnosing HMII-pH-proven PAR episodes between 2 independent observers was 92.2%. Conclusion Our preliminary data showed that 80.0% (71.0-87.0%) of the proposed candidate PAR episodes were HMII-pH-proven PAR episodes, among which the interobserver reproducibility was good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are a variety of bioactive components in rice bran oil (RBO), among which the richer ones include γ-oryzanol, α-tocopherol and sitosterol. The activity of these ingredients is affected by the vehicle and formulation, and there is a significant synergy between these antioxidants. At present, the content of antioxidants in physically refined RBO has reached a high level. Therefore, comparing the activity of physically refined RBO with γ-oryzanol, α-tocopherol, and sitosterol as single components and the above three ingredients dissolved in the same base oil as RBO can provide information for better application of these antioxidants. The results showed that the antioxidant and anti-senescence capacities of physically refined RBO were significantly higher than those of dissolved γ-oryzanol, α-tocopherol, and sitosterol and better than those of the mixture. This study illustrates that the antioxidant and anti-senescence effects of highly active physically refined RBO are superior to those antioxidants derived from RBO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genomic recombination is an important driving force for viral evolution, and recombination events have been reported for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic, which significantly alter viral infectivity and transmissibility. However, it is difficult to identify viral recombination, especially for low-divergence viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, since it is hard to distinguish recombination from in situ mutation. Herein, we applied information theory to viral recombination analysis and developed VirusRecom, a program for efficiently screening recombination events on viral genome. In principle, we considered a recombination event as a transmission process of ''information'' and introduced weighted information content (WIC) to quantify the contribution of recombination to a certain region on viral genome; then, we identified the recombination regions by comparing WICs of different regions. In the benchmark using simulated data, VirusRecom showed a good balance between precision and recall compared to two competing tools, RDP5 and 3SEQ. In the detection of SARS-CoV-2 XE, XD and XF recombinants, VirusRecom providing more accurate positions of recombination regions than RDP5 and 3SEQ. In addition, we encapsulated the VirusRecom program into a command-line-interface software for convenient operation by users. In summary, we developed a novel approach based on information theory to identify viral recombination within highly similar sequences, providing a useful tool for monitoring viral evolution and epidemic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Nanopore sequencing is crucial to metagenomic studies as its kilobase-long reads can contribute to resolving genomic structural differences among microbes. However, sequencing platform-specific challenges, including high base-call error rate, nonuniform read lengths, and the presence of chimeric artifacts, necessitate specifically designed analytical algorithms. The use of simulated datasets with characteristics that are true to the sequencing platform under evaluation is a cost-effective way to assess the performance of bioinformatics tools with the ground truth in a controlled environment. Results Here, we present Meta-NanoSim, a fast and versatile utility that characterizes and simulates the unique properties of nanopore metagenomic reads. It improves upon state-of-the-art methods on microbial abundance estimation through a base-level quantification algorithm. Meta-NanoSim can simulate complex microbial communities composed of both linear and circular genomes and can stream reference genomes from online servers directly. Simulated datasets showed high congruence with experimental data in terms of read length, error profiles, and abundance levels. We demonstrate that Meta-NanoSim simulated data can facilitate the development of metagenomic algorithms and guide experimental design through a metagenome assembly benchmarking task. Conclusions The Meta-NanoSim characterization module investigates read features, including chimeric information and abundance levels, while the simulation module simulates large and complex multisample microbial communities with different abundance profiles. All trained models and the software are freely accessible at GitHub: https://github.com/bcgsc/NanoSim. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrolusite tailings (PTs) is a solid waste discharged from the mining of high grade pyrolusite, and is also regraded as an important secondary resource of manganese. However, its extraction requires an expensive reductant used for the reduction of Mn(IV) to low valence. In this paper, an innovative process using in situ redox interaction of PTs with waste copperas (as reductant and sulfating agent) followed by water leaching for efficient manganese extraction was proposed. The in situ redox interaction mechanism was investigated systematically. At lower temperatures (＜500 °C), Fe(II) was the main reductant by direct solid-to-solid reaction. In the temperature range of 500–650 °C, the Mn(IV) in PTs was reduced to Mn(II) due to the synergistic effect of Fe(II) and SO 2 , and then Mn(II) was sulfated into water-soluble MnSO 4. The reduction of Fe(III) into Fe(II) by SO 2 occurred i.e. the Fe(II)⇌Fe(III) redox cycle. And the generated FeSO 4 continued to react with PTs, indicating that the Fe(II)⇌Fe(III) redox cycle facilitated the extraction of manganese. Furthermore, high roasting temperatures caused MnSO 4 to decompose into insoluble Mn 2 O 3 , inhibiting the extraction. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ceiling of energy density of batteries in materials level motivates the innovation of cell, module and pack that constitute the battery assembly for electric vehicles (EVs). Patent analysis is a powerful means to inform technology life cycle and forecast upcoming innovations. To date, only a handful of research have quantitatively analysed and compared battery assembly in the EV field, resulting in a lack of information to discern the battery layout. Herein, battery patents are categorized into cell, module and pack levels, and are recorded with a function of timeline and technology life cycle to identify their development status. It indicates the maturity stage of the cell level while noting the growth stage of module and pack levels, which probably results from the intensive demand of large-size and high-quality batteries for EVs. Moreover, the global patent distribution reveals that China and Japan possess most patents among cell, module and pack levels, and that patent assignees are scattered in China, whereas concentrated in Japan and Korea. This work is expected to figure out the battery technology trends to construct energy-dense batteries in the EV field, as well as provide instructive information for decision-makers to lay out battery technologies in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A suitable carrier for flax lignans using Soybean protein isolated (SPI) - κ-carrageenan (KC) hydrogels was developed. The effects of KC concentration on the stability of hydrogels were investigated, as well as water holding capacity (WHC), syneresis and morphological changes. A solid-like gel network and viscoelasticity of composite hydrogels were confirmed by rheological behavior test. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) displayed a dense and uniform structure for hydrogels with the optimum KC concentration (0.6 %). Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) curves suggested lignan might interact with SPI and KC by hydrogen bonding or hydrophobic effects. The release of flax lignans in hydrogels was followed with Fick diffusion in simulated gastric fluids (SGF) and non-Fickian diffusion in simulated intestinal fluids (SIF), respectively. The cumulative release rate of flax lignan in complex gels (46.00 %) was lower than that of pure SPI hydrogels (77.43 %) at the end of digestion. The results indicated that KC protected the protein by hindering the accession of digestive enzymes into the hydrogels, thus resulting in a reduction of gel matrix erosion and lignan release during digestion. These findings shield a light on SPI-KC hydrogels as carriers for water-soluble bioactive compounds in food and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare stress, anxiety and depression levels among 3 groups of pregnant women: 1) low-risk outpatient (LRO), 2) high-risk outpatient (HRO), and 3) inpatient (IP). Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using validated instruments. Inclusion criteria were pregnancies 23–37 weeks and maternal age > 18 years. The primary outcome was mean/median scores of Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Edinburgh Depression Scale (EDS). Secondary outcome was rate of abnormal scores. Results: Among 190 women approached, 180 (95%) participated, with 60 (33%) in each group. Mean PSS scores (range 0–40) significantly increased from LRO (12.0, standard deviation [SD] 7.8) to HRO (14.7, SD 7.9) to IP (15.6, SD 8.2); p = .04. Mean STAI scores (range 20–80) also significantly increased from LRO (32.0, SD 11.1) to HRO (35.8, SD 11.9) to IP (40.9, SD 13.1); p < .01. Abnormal anxiety (STAI ≥ 40) was present in 40% of women and significantly higher among IP compared to LRO (56% vs 25%; RR 2.24, 95% CI 1.36–3.67; aRR 2.24, 95% CI 1.34–3.74). Conclusion: Stress and anxiety scores significantly differ in LRO, HRO, and IP women. While depression screening is common postpartum, screening for stress, anxiety and depression prenatally may be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the birth injury outcomes and hospital length of stay and costs among newborns delivered at 34–42 weeks with neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP) versus those without. Study design: We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study using data from the National Inpatient Sample to identify all newborns hospitalizations that occurred in the U.S. between 2016 and 2017. We included non-anomalous single liveborn delivered in-hospital at 34–42 weeks. The newborns with NBPP were identified by International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Birth injury outcomes, and hospital length of stay and hospital costs were examined. A multivariable Poisson regression model with robust error variance was used to examine the association between NBPP and birth injury outcomes. A multivariable generalized linear regression model was used to examine the association between NBPP and hospital length of stay and hospital costs. Results: Of 7,019,722 non-anomalous single liveborn delivered at 34–42 weeks in the U.S. from 2016 to 2017, the rate of NBPP (n = 6695) was 0.95 per 1000 newborn hospitalizations. After multivariable regression adjustment, compared to newborns without NBPP, the risk of the composite birth injury outcome was 2.91 (95% CI 2.61–3.25) times higher in those with NBPP. Similar results of an increased risk among newborns with NBPP were observed in all individual birth injury outcomes. Compared to newborns without NBPP, after adjustment, the hospital length of stay was 1.48 (95% IC 1.38–1.59) times higher and the hospital costs were 2.21 (95% CI 1.97–2.48) times higher in those with NBPP. Conclusions: Among newborns delivered at 34–42 weeks, the risk of associated birth injuries, hospital length of stay and costs, were significantly higher in newborns with NBPP than those without. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To assess whether an early recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway after scheduled cesarean delivery was associated with a reduction in postoperative length of stay compared with standard perioperative care. Methods This was a prospective pre- and post-intervention study. Women were included if they were between 18 and 45 years of age and delivered a singleton, term, non-anomalous fetus via scheduled cesarean delivery by a provider within an academic practice. The ERAS pathway consisted of 23 evidence-based components regarding preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care. The primary outcome was the rate of postoperative length of stay of 3 or more days. Secondary outcomes included total postoperative narcotic use, postoperative complications, 30-day hospital readmission rates, and quality of recovery questionnaire scores. Results A total of 116 women were included. There were no significant differences in patient characteristics between the pre- and post-implementation groups in the post-implementation group, surgery time was longer (78.3 ± 27.8 vs 59.1 ± 19.2 min, p < .001) and blood loss volume was higher (910.3 ± 405.1 vs 729.1 ± 202.0, p = .003), compared to pre-implementation group. An ERAS pathway was not associated in a significant reduction in postoperative length of stay of 3 or more days (70.7% vs 75.9%, p = .529). It was also not significantly associated with a difference in postoperative narcotic use, maximum pain score, transfusion, postoperative complications or hospital readmission rates. Conclusion An early recovery after surgery pathway after scheduled cesarean delivery was not associated with a reduction in postoperative length of stay or narcotic use, though the recovery scores were better after implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To compare the composite neonatal and maternal adverse outcomes among low-risk pregnancies with versus without chorioamnionitis. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study using U.S. Vital Statistics Data. The study population was restricted to full term, low-risk, singleton pregnancies. Pregnancies were categorized into those affected and unaffected by chorioamnionitis. The primary outcome was composite neonatal adverse outcome and the secondary outcome was composite maternal adverse outcome. Multivariable Poisson regression models with robust error variance were used to examine the factors associated with chorioamnionitis and to evaluate the association between chorioamnionitis and adverse outcomes [using adjusted relative risk (aRR) and 95% confidence interval (CI)]. Results Of 19.7 million live births, 59.4% met inclusion criteria; among them, 1.7% were complicated by chorioamnionitis. The risk of composite neonatal adverse outcome was higher in newborns delivered by women with chorioamnionitis (aRR = 3.40; 95% CI = 3.30–3.49). Compared to women without chorioamnionitis, those with chorioamnionitis had a higher risk of composite maternal adverse outcome (aRR = 2.42; 95% CI = 2.31–2.55). Infant mortality was also higher in affected pregnancies (aRR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.09–1.38). Conclusion Among low-risk pregnancies, chorioamnionitis is associated with a higher risk of composite neonatal and maternal adverse outcomes. Infant death is also increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction To determine the impact of route of delivery on maternal outcomes among individuals who deliver preterm (before 37 weeks). Materials and methods This was a population-based retrospective cohort study using the U.S. vital statistics datasets on Period Linked Birth-Infant Death Data from 2014 to 2018. The study population was restricted to live births from women with non-anomalous singletons who delivered at 24–36 weeks of gestation. The main explanatory variable for this study was route of delivery, which was categorized as: (i) vaginal delivery, (ii) cesarean delivery with labor, and (iii) cesarean delivery without labor. The primary outcome was composite maternal adverse outcome, which encompassed any of the following: admission to the intensive care unit, maternal blood transfusion, uterine rupture, or unplanned hysterectomy. The results were presented as adjusted relative risk (aRR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Over the study period 1,440,510 live births met the inclusion criteria, and the overall composite maternal adverse outcome was 14.38 per 1,000 live births. After multivariable adjustment, compared to women who underwent a vaginal delivery, the risk of composite maternal adverse outcome was higher in women who had a cesarean delivery with labor (aRR 3.70; 95% CI 3.52–3.90) and those who had a cesarean delivery without labor (aRR 4.79; 95% CI 4.59–4.98). Conclusion With preterm birth, cesarean delivery without labor has higher rate of composite maternal morbidity than cesarean during labor or vaginal delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To compare the composite neonatal and maternal adverse outcomes among women with diabetes who labor and deliver at 37–41 weeks at distinct time shifts. Methods This population-based retrospective cohort study using the US Vital Statistics dataset on Period Linked Birth-Infant Death Data from 2013–2017. The study population was restricted to non-anomalous singleton live births from women with pregestational or gestational diabetes, who labored and delivered at 37 0/7 to 41 6/7 weeks of gestation. The time of delivery was categorized as the first shift (7:00–15:00), the second shift (15:00–23:00), and the third shift (23:00–7:00). The primary outcome was a composite neonatal adverse outcome; the secondary outcome was a composite maternal adverse outcome. Multivariable Poisson regression models were used to estimate the association between the time of delivery and adverse outcomes (using adjusted relative risk [aRR] and 95% CI). Results Of 19.8 million live births during the study period, 3.3% (643,610) met the study inclusion criteria. The overall rate of composite neonatal and maternal adverse outcomes were 9.62 and 3.63 per 1000 live births, respectively. Multivariable adjusted regression analysis showed that, compared to newborns delivered at the first shift, the risk of composite neonatal adverse outcome was modestly but significantly higher (aRR 1.19, 95% CI 1.12–1.27) in the third shift (23:00–7:00). There was no significant difference in the risk of composite maternal adverse outcomes between time shifts. In the sensitivity analysis stratified by the day of the week (weekday vs weekend), the results were consistent with the primary analyses. Conclusion Among term pregnancies complicated by diabetes, compared with delivery at 7:00–15:00, the risk of a composite neonatal adverse outcome is marginally but significantly higher if delivery occurs at the third shift (23:00–7:00). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Among low-risk pregnancies, we ascertained the association between 10-minute Apgar score and adverse outcomes of newborn infants. Method We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the U.S. vital statistics datasets (2011–2018), which included live births from low-risk women with non-anomalous singleton gestations who delivered at 37–41 weeks. When a newborn infant had an abnormal 5-minute Apgar score (0–5), a 10-minute Apgar score was documented in the birth certificate. Apgar score at 10 min was categorized as low (0–3), moderate (4–6), and normal (7–10). The primary outcome was composite neonatal adverse outcome. The secondary outcomes were individual neonatal adverse outcomes and infant mortality. Multivariable Poisson regression analyses were used to estimate the association between 10-minute Apgar score and adverse outcomes (using adjusted relative risk [aRR] and 95% confidence intervals [CI]). Results Of 31.5 million live births delivered (2011–2018), 111,163 (0.4%) met inclusion criteria; of them, 74.2%, 20.7%, and 5.1% had normal, moderate, and low 10-minute Apgar scores, respectively. The overall composite neonatal adverse outcome was 100.6 per 1,000 live births and the risk was significantly higher among those with a moderate (aRR 3.19; 95% CI 3.06–3.31) or low 10-minute Apgar score (aRR 6.62; 95% CI 6.34–6.91) than with a normal 10-minute Apgar score. Infant mortality also showed a similar pattern. Newborn infants with improved Apgar scores from 5 to 10 min were associated with lower risks of the composite neonatal adverse outcome, as well as infant mortality, than those with scores that remained stable. Conclusion Among low-risk pregnancies, newborn infants with a lower 10-minute Apgar score were associated with a higher risk of adverse outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assembly of cyclo-pentazolate (cyclo-N5−) anions with counterions has thrived in recent years owing to their potential as high energy density materials. However, high-valence metal pentazolate salts are still rare, thus hindering the recognition of the structures and properties of new metal pentazolate salts. Herein, two trivalent metal pentazolate hydrates, namely, Fe(H2O)6(N5)3·9H2O (1) and Al(H2O)6(N5)3·9H2O (2), were synthesized via a metathesis reaction. The compounds were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. The cyclo-N5− anion decomposition temperature for compound 2 is 141.4 °C, which means it has the highest thermal stability among all cyclo-N5−-based materials reported so far. Single-crystal X-ray analysis revealed that there are no direct σ-bonds between the metal centers and cyclo-N5− anions in the crystal lattices of 1 and 2. Hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking interactions in the crystal lattices of 1 and 2 were evaluated. The proportion of hydrogen bonds is more than 75%. Four kinds of hydrogen bond ring motifs are formed via O–H⋯N and O–H⋯O interactions: tetrameric R 44 (10), pentameric R 55 (12) and R 55 (17), and nonameric R 99 (21) motifs. This study deepens our understanding of the structure of cyclo-N5−-based complexes and is expected to contribute to the further development of pentazole chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Numerous studies have used multi-region sampling approaches to characterize intra-tumor heterogeneity (ITH) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, conventional multi-region sampling strategies do not preserve the spatial details of samples, and thus, the potential influences of spatial distribution on patient-wise ITH (represents the overall heterogeneity level of the tumor in a given patient) have long been overlooked. Furthermore, gene-wise transcriptional ITH (represents the expression pattern of genes across different intra-tumor regions) in HCC is also under-explored, highlighting the need for a comprehensive investigation. Methods: To address the problem of spatial information loss, we propose a simple and easy-to-implement strategy called spatial localization sampling (SLS). We performed multi-region sampling and sequencing on 14 patients with HCC, collecting a total of 75 tumor samples with spatial information and molecular data. Normalized diversity score and integrated heterogeneity score (IHS) were then developed to measure patient-wise and gene-wise ITH, respectively. Results: A significant correlation between spatial and molecular heterogeneity was uncovered, implying that spatial distribution of sampling sites did influence ITH estimation in HCC. We demonstrated that the normalized diversity score had the ability to overcome sampling location bias and provide a more accurate estimation of patient-wise ITH. According to this metric, HCC tumors could be divided into two classes (low-ITH and high-ITH tumors) with significant differences in multiple biological properties. Through IHS analysis, we revealed a highly heterogenous immune microenvironment in HCC and identified some low-ITH checkpoint genes with immunotherapeutic potential. We also constructed a low-heterogeneity risk stratification (LHRS) signature based on the IHS results which could accurately predict the survival outcome of patients with HCC on a single tumor biopsy sample. Conclusions: This study provides new insights into the complex phenotypes of HCC and may serve as a guide for future studies in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large eddy simulation model coupled with the modified Schnerr–Sauer cavitation model has been used to numerically simulate the unsteady cavitation and noncavitation flow of the three-dimensional NACA66 (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) hydrofoil under different operating conditions. The results show that the magnitude of the cavitation number plays a decisive role in the hydrofoil cavitation quasiperiodic phenomenon. The cavitation number of 1.25 is used as a typical working condition for analysis. Using the Ffowcs Williams–Hawkings acoustic analogy approach accompanied by the vorticity transport equation splitting, the growth and shedding of cavitation also lead to the growth and shedding of the vortex structure. The cavitation–vortex interaction is mainly influenced by the vortex stretching term and vortex dilatation term and amplitude of them are larger than 500. The baroclinic torque term may be responsible for generating vorticity during the cloud cavitation collapse and has a lower amplitude about 200. The cavity volume acceleration is the main influencing factor of the low-frequency pressure fluctuation around the cavitating hydrofoil. Moreover, the NACA66 hydrofoil surface-pressure data are collected for dynamic mode decomposition to locate the hydrofoil surface noise sources. The alternate high and low amplitude regions in the mode results overlap highly with the cavitation transformation regions. The cavity transformation and pressure fluctuations are the main reason for the generation of periodic low-frequency noise source regions on the hydrofoil surface. Moreover, the corresponding frequencies of each order mode are linearly correlated with the cavitation shedding frequency of 5.70 Hz. Combined with the results of the multiple mode comparisons, it can be inferred that the hydrofoil suction surface under the cavitation effect will generate quasiperiodic waves starting from upstream and moving downstream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common malignant tumor in men. Chemotherapy with docetaxel (DTX) and novel hormonal agents such as enzalutamide (EZL) and abiraterone are the preferred first-line therapeutic regimens. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is overexpressed on the surface of PCa cells. This study aimed to prepare a PSMA targeted (Glutamate-Urea-Lysine, GUL ligand modified), glutathione (GSH)-sensitive (Cystamine, SS), DTX and EZL co-loaded nanoparticles (GUL-SS DTX/EZL-NPs) to treat PCa. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was conjugated with oleic acid (OA) using a GSH-sensitive ligand: cystamine (PEG-SS-OA). GUL was covalently coupled to PEG-SS-OA to achieve GUL-PEG-SS-OA. GUL-PEG-SS-OA was used to prepare GUL-SS DTX/EZL-NPs. To evaluate the in vitro and in vivo efficiency of the system, human prostate cancer cell lines and PCa cells bearing mice were applied. Single drug-loaded nanoparticle and free drugs systems were utilized for the comparison of the anticancer ability. GUL-SS DTX/EZL-NPs showed a size of 143.7 ± 4.1 nm, with a PDI of 0.162 ± 0.037 and a zeta potential of +29.1 ± 2.4 mV. GUL-SS DTX/EZL-NPs showed high cancer cell uptake of about 70%, as well as higher cell growth inhibition efficiency (a maximum 79% of cells were inhibited after treatment) than single drug-loaded NPs and free drugs. GUL-SS DTX/EZL-NPs showed the most prominent tumor inhibition ability and less systemic toxicity. The novel GUL-SS DTX/EZL-NPs could be used as a promising system for PCa therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) causes severe viral diseases on many economically important plants of Solanaceae. During the infection process of TSWV, a series of 3′-truncated subgenomic RNAs (sgRNAs) relative to corresponding genomic RNAs were synthesized, which were responsible for the expression of some viral proteins. However, corresponding genomic RNAs (gRNAs) seem to possess the basic elements for expression of these viral proteins. In this study, molecular characteristics of sgRNAs superior to genomic RNAs in viral protein expression were identified. The 3′ ends of sgRNAs do not cover the entire intergenic region (IGR) of TSWV genomic RNAs and contain the remarkable A-rich characteristics. In addition, the 3′ terminal nucleotides of sgRNAs are conserved among different TSWV isolates. Based on the eIF4E recruitment assay and subsequent northern blot, it is suggested that the TSWV sgRNA, but not gRNA, is capped in vivo; this is why sgRNA is competent for protein expression relative to gRNA. In addition, the 5′ and 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of sgRNA-Ns can synergistically enhance cap-dependent translation. This study further enriched the understanding of sgRNAs of ambisense RNA viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: While ratoon rice has been increasingly practiced by farmers recently in China, on‐farm performance in grain quality of main and ratoon crops in the mechanized rice ratooning system is less studied and remains poorly understood. Therefore, a multi‐location on‐farm survey was conducted to collect rice grain samples from farmers' fields to determine grain quality of main and ratoon crops of ratoon rice at 12 locations across Hubei Province, central China, in 2016. RESULTS: On average, milled and head rice percentage in the ratoon crop was 70.2% and 65.7%, which was significantly higher than in the main crop, whereas chalky grain percentage and grain chalkiness in ratoon crop (10.1% and 2.8%, respectively) were significantly lower than those in the main crop (36.6% and 14.2%, respectively). The differences in these quality traits between the two crops were consistent at all locations. Averaged across 12 locations, scores of translucency and gel consistency were significantly lower but amylose content and alkali spreading value were significantly higher in the ratoon crop than in the main crop, with the difference between the two crops varying in gel consistency by location. CONCLUSION: Overall, grain quality, especially milling and appearance of the ratoon crop, was superior to the main crop in the mechanized rice ratooning system. As a result, this study emphasizes the potential role of the rice ratooning system in other regions with a similar biophysical background producing high‐quality rice. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinically oriented deep learning algorithms, combined with large-scale medical datasets, have significantly promoted computer-aided diagnosis. To address increasing ethical and privacy issues, Federated Learning (FL) adopts a distributed paradigm to collaboratively train models, rather than collecting samples from multiple institutions for centralized training. Despite intensive research on FL, two major challenges are still existing when applying FL in the real-world medical scenarios, including the performance degradation (i.e., retrogress) after each communication and the intractable class imbalance. Thus, in this paper, we propose a novel personalized FL framework to tackle these two problems. For the retrogress problem, we first devise a Progressive Fourier Aggregation (PFA) at the server side to gradually integrate parameters of client models in the frequency domain. Then, at the client side, we design a Deputy-Enhanced Transfer (DET) to smoothly transfer global knowledge to the personalized local model. For the class imbalance problem, we propose the Conjoint Prototype-Aligned (CPA) loss to facilitate the balanced optimization of the FL framework. Considering the inaccessibility of private local data to other participants in FL, the CPA loss calculates the global conjoint objective based on global imbalance, and then adjusts the client-side local training through the prototype-aligned refinement to eliminate the imbalance gap with such a balanced goal. Extensive experiments are performed on real-world dermoscopic and prostate MRI FL datasets. The experimental results demonstrate the advantages of our FL framework in real-world medical scenarios, by outperforming state-of-the-art FL methods with a large margin. The source code is available at https://github.com/CityU-AIM-Group/PRR-Imbalance https://github.com/CityU-AIM-Group/PRR-Imbalance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasingly complicated and versatile convolutional neural networks (CNNs) models bring challenges to hardware acceleration in terms of performance, energy efficiency and flexibility. This paper proposes a reconfigurable neural accelerator (RNA) for flexible and efficient CNN acceleration. To provide hardware flexibility, RNA employs dynamically reconfigurable computing framework to rapidly configure data path between processing elements (PE) at run-time, as well as an interlaced data access mechanism for multi-bank RAM. To achieve high energy efficiency, three optimization mechanisms, including image row broadcasting dataflow (IRBD), tile-by-tile computing (TTC), and zero detection technology (ZDT), are dedicatedly designed for RNA to exploit data reuse and decrease memory bandwidth requirement, which is the key to improving performance and saving power consumption. To save hardware overhead, an online dynamic adaptive data truncation (DADT) mechanism is designed to compensate accuracy loss of multiplication results so that the computational precision in RNA can be reduced from 16-bit to 8-bit, which contributes to reducing the area of data path. The RNA architecture is implemented on Xilinx XC7Z100 FPGA and works at 250 MHz. Experimental results show that the performance of running LeNet, AlexNet and VGG are 500 GOPS, 598 GOPS and 660 GOPS, respectively. Compared to previous FPGA-based designs, RNA achieves 1. 5 × − 4. 3 × performance speedup and 7. 6 × − 8. 4 × improvements on energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the maturity and popularity of Internet of Things (IoT), the notion of Social Internet of Things (SIoT) has been proposed to support novel applications and networking services for the IoT in more effective and efficient ways. Although there are many works for SIoT, they focus on designing the architectures and protocols for SIoT under the specific schemes. How to efficiently utilize the collaboration capability of SIoT to complete complex tasks remains unexplored. Therefore, we propose a new problem family, namely, Task-Optimized SIoT Selection (TOSS), to find the best group of IoT objects for a given set of tasks in the task pool. TOSS aims to select the target SIoT group such that the target SIoT group is able to easily communicate with each other while maximizing the accuracy of performing the given tasks. We propose two problem formulations, named Bounded Communication-loss TOSS (BC-TOSS) and Robustness Guaranteed TOSS (RG-TOSS), for different scenarios and prove that they are both NP-hard and inapproximable. We propose a polynomial-time algorithm with a performance guarantee for BC-TOSS, and an efficient polynomial-time algorithm to obtain good solutions for RG-TOSS. Moreover, as RG-TOSS is NP-hard and inapproximable within any factor, we further propose Structure-Aware Reinforcement Learning (SARL) to leverage the Graph Convolutional Networks (GCN) and Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) to effectively solve RG-TOSS. Further, since we use graph models to simulate the problem instance for DRL, which is different from the real ones, we propose Structure-Aware Meta Reinforcement Learning (SAMRL) for fast adapting to new domains. Experimental results on multiple real datasets indicate that our proposed algorithms outperform the other deterministic and learning-based baseline approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facile preparation of separable bio-adsorbents by a novel physical cross-linking agent for efficient capture of lead and cobalt ions in static and dynamic aqueous systems. [Display omitted] A separable spherical bio-adsorbent (CMC-Cr) was prepared for capturing heavy metal ions by simple coordination and cross-linking between targeted ions of Cr3+ and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). A simple alternation of the CMC incorporation allowed the interconnected networks within the microspheres of preformed solid CMC to be adjusted. The excellent network structure could achieve the maximum collision between the adsorbent and the heavy metal cations in the wastewater. Through investigations, CMC-Cr-2 beads were determined as the optimal adsorbent. The adsorption performance of novel materials was evaluated by examining their adsorption behavior on Pb(II) and Co(II) under both static and dynamic conditions. The results showed that the adsorption behavior of CMC-Cr-2 beads on both two heavy metal cations could be fully reflected by the Freundlich model. Under the theoretical conditions, the maximum adsorption capacities were 97.26 and 144.74 mg/g. The kinetic results for the adsorption of two heavy metal cations on CMC-Cr-2 beads were consistent with the Pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Moreover, the correlation coefficient of the Thomas model was significant in the dynamic adsorption performance tests. Five regeneration cycle studies were successfully carried out on CMC-Cr-2 beads to evaluate reusability and stability. The applicability of CMC-Cr-2 beads in authentic aqueous solutions (both the single and binary pollutant systems) was also studied, and the results indicated that CMC-Cr-2 beads had a high potential for practical implementation. Furthermore, by analyzing the surface interactions of two heavy metal cations with the CMC-Cr-2 beads based on FTIR and XPS characterization, a basic understanding of the interaction between bio-sorbents and pollutants in wastewater can be obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Camk2b-induced differential proteomic profiling by iTRAQ-based quantitative approach. • Several candidate target proteins were directly affected by Camk2b dysexpression. • Camk2b-Mapk3 as a new potential pathway affected expression of the synaptic proteins and thereby synaptogenesis. Recent studies have demonstrated that Camk2b expression is modified in neuropsychiatric illnesses and potentially affects synaptic plasticity. However, the molecular events arising from Camk2b dysregulation are not fully elucidated and need to be comprehensively explored. In the present study, we first induced over-expression and under-expression of Camk2b in cultured rat hippocampal neurons through transfection with lentivirus plasmids. Then isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based quantitative proteomics followed by bioinformatics analyses were carried out to explore the impacts of Camk2b dysexpression on the proteome of the neurons. Compared with the respective controls, a total of 270 proteins in the Camk2b-overexpression group and 209 proteins in the Camk2b-underexpression group were experienced a divergence in expression. Gene ontology and pathway analyses indicated that Camk2b overexpression and under-expression respectively induced two different change profiles of protein expressions and functions, reflecting the potential differences in cellular processes and biological events. Through cross comparison, several candidate target proteins regulated directly by Camk2b were revealed. Further network and immunoblot analyses demonstrated that Mapk3 could be an important linker and Camk2b-Mapk3 might serve as a new potential pathway affecting the expression of synaptic proteins in hippocampal neurons. Collectively, the present results offer a new comprehension of the regulatory molecular mechanism of Camk2b and thereby increase our understanding of Camk2b-mediated synaptogenesis in synaptic plasticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]